6:00 a.m.

I sneak out of the bedroom and Lachlan's arms as I head downstairs and make a bowl of cereal for myself. I brush my hair and teeth afterwards, then grab a cute pink dress. I slip it on and put some lipstick and eyeshadow on. Once I've finished, I text Ben.

I'm all set... Hurry up before I change my mind. ~ Me

Be there in five. ~ Ben

True to his word, Ben knocks on the door and I walk out. We walk to his car and get in. "How far away is this place again?"

"Just a twenty minute drive; nothing major."

"Alrighty." I respond, quiet. "I don't see why I couldn't bring Lachlan." I pout.

"I don't think it would've been a good first impression. I mean, the man hasn't seen you since you were a child."

"And I'd rather it stayed that way." I moodily respond.

"We're here." Ben says a few minutes later.

"Ugh."

"Don't make me pick you up and carry you in there."

"Fine, fine. I'm coming." I reply, getting out and walking in the hospital, alongside my brother.

"Room 289." The receptionist says, and Ben and I nod our thanks.

I start to get extremely nervous and clench and unclench my now sweaty palms. "I-I don't think I can do this. I-it's too m-much f-for m-me."

"Close your eyes and count to ten. It always helps for me." Ben offers, grabbing my hand as I close me eyes and leading me down the hallway.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five...

Six...

Seven...

Eight...

Nine...

Ten...

I open my eyes and realize that we're here. Outside my fathers' room.

"I'll go in first. Wait here." Ben says, and I shakily nod. He slips inside and talks to him for a few minutes, and then exits and motions for me to go inside. "He's waiting for you." I gulp and nod, slowly and shakily walking inside the room. My eyes land on the thin and fragile figure on the bed, and all the IVs stuck in him. I inhale sharply as my eyes find his face. His features are the same; brown hair, with some tufts of grey, hazel eyes with a sparkle in them, although I cannot define what it is now, and a large smile. The only thing different is wrinkles and bags under his eyes.

"Hi, C. C-Come sit down." He says, straining his voice to speak. I just stand there, unable to move in a state of shock. I'm standing in front of the man that abandoned me and my mother. "W-we n-need t-to t-talk." He says, and I slowly nod, carefully sitting down next to him. We sit in silence for a few minutes. "Y-you've grown i-into such a b-beautiful w-woman." He says, and a ghost of a smile flickers on my face. "H-how's your m-mother?" He asks, and I immediately tense.

"She's dead." I respond, eyes and heart turning to steel as I remember every crime this man before me has done.

His eyes widen. "W-what?!" He wheezes.

"You killed her. You left the both of us to fend for ourselves. We had many days where we only had a piece of bread on the table. And we had to split it between us. Mom was generous and always gave me the full slice, but I would refuse. We went downhill so fast and she got sick. I had to quit school and find a job to pay for mama's medicine and food. I was only seven. And I had to be an adult." I respond.

"Oh my god, I-I'm s-so s-sorry."

"I had nobody in my time of need. I was all alone... Mama's last words were 'Don't hate him, hate the reason why he left.' So why did you leave?" I ask.

"I-I was d-drunk t-that n-night and I didn't k-know what w-was going on... T-the words just c-came out of m-my m-mouth."

I laugh, a cold-hearted and steely laugh because that surely cannot be the reason he really left. "Nice try. What was the real reason?"

"Smart as ever, I see. I knew that wasn't going to get pay you." He responds, not stuttering. "I got offered a job that your mother didn't like. But I took it, and now I'm filthy rich!"

"You don't look like it." I snort.

"Believe it!" He responds, tossing me something near him. A wallet. "Open it." I do, and tons of cash is in there.

"How many banks did you rob?" I venomously ask.

"I didn't rob any banks. I worked hard by killing people to be where I am today."

"In a hospital. With lung cancer." I sarcastically reply. "Great job, asshole."

"Now, honey, is that any way to talk to your father?" He sweetly asks.

"I can't deal with you. You're a piece of shit that will never regain my respect. I have no idea why Ben forced me to come here. I'm done with you. Mom might have forgive you, but I will never, ever forgive you for what you have done. Fuck you." I respond, slipping my bag over my shoulder. "I hope you rot in hell." I add, walking out the door.

"How'd it go?" Ben asks, standing up. We start walking away.

"He's still an asshole." I respond, a frown on my face. "I put him in his place."

"Caitlin..." He sighs.

"Listen, Ben." I turn to face him. "You may be all 'buddy-buddy' with him, but he's done things to mom and I that I can never forgive him for." I respond. "Now, if you don't mind me, I'll be off." I walk away from him and out onto the concrete.

"Where are you going? I've got a car." He says.

"Away from you. Don't talk to me now." I reply, turning in the direction of my favorite tree. He leaves me, and I walk to the tree, sitting down in the crook of it and ignoring the dirt that will stain my dress afterwards.

"Cait?" A voice asks, and my eyes widen when I see my best friend, who I haven't seen in a year before me. "W-why are you crying?" She asks, sitting down next to me.

"I-I missed you so much, Aut." I hug her tightly.

I can feel her smile against my shoulder. "I missed you too. Now, tell me everything." I do. I tell her 110% of my life, and she does the same. In the end, we ended up going back to our old place.

"It's still the same." I note as we enter, and then head to my old room.

"Yeah, I couldn't bear to change it."

"We should have a pillow fight."

"Oh, you're on!"